Severe thunderstorms with tornado risk and baseball-sized hail expected today across Alberta
Environment and Climate Change Canada warns eastern Alberta faces high-risk conditions, while Calgary is under moderate risk.
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Severe thunderstorms are expected today across Alberta, with Environment and Climate Change Canada warning of tornado risk and hail the size of baseballs in the most threatened areas.
Eastern Alberta faces a high-risk zone covering spots like Lloydminster, Wainwright, Provost, Consort, and Oyen, where wind gusts could reach 120 kilometres an hour. Hail could grow to six centimetres — roughly baseball-sized — and up to 50 millimetres of rain may fall if a storm materializes. A tornado cannot be ruled out.
Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Red Deer, Chestermere, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge are under moderate risk, where wind gusts up to 110 kilometres an hour and hail up to six centimetres are possible, along with around 50 millimetres of rain.
Further west, areas including Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Hinton, Edson, High Level, and Peace River face a lower risk of wind gusts up to 70 kilometres an hour, hail up to one centimetre, and up to 30 millimetres of rain.
ECCC issued a severe thunderstorm watch for numerous areas across the province, warning that conditions favour the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. Thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and early this evening. Current weather watches and warnings can be checked on the ECCC website.
